The man, who attacked two people on a train that was heading for Flensburg, is a migrant from Eritrea, German media say.

After a dispute, a 35-year-old male passenger was attacked and seriously injured by the man. A policewoman who was on the train and confronted the African was attacked as well. She shot and killed the assailant.

The male passenger is recovering in hospital and has non-life-threatening injuries. The policewoman was only slightly injured.

According to Germany’s Spiegel Online, the suspected attacker is a 24-year-old man from Eritrea. He arrived in Germany via Austria in September 2015. He had a temporary residence permit for political, humanitarian or international reasons – so he legally stayed in the country.

Police say, the man lived in North Rhine-Westphalia; an autopsy should finally clarify his identity. For now, the police have ruled out a terrorist motive for the attack.